Head of Nuclear Instrumentation & Electronics

Valar Atomics Inc.; New Mexico; On-site; USD 225,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Medical benefits

Unlimited PTO

Free meals onsite

PPE stipend

Career growth & autonomy

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a Director of Nuclear Instrumentation & Electronics to build and lead the team that designs, qualifies, and manufactures nuclear instrumentation. You will own the full product lifecycle from detector physics to production, ensuring high-quality hardware for reactor production volumes.

You will drive qualification programs, establish a nuclear quality system, and collaborate across licensing, safety, and manufacturing teams to scale capabilities in a startup-like

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Physics, or related discipline.
• 12+ years in radiation detection, nuclear instrumentation, or high‑reliability electronics design and manufacturing, including 5+ years leading engineering or product teams.
• Deep knowledge of radiation detection physics and detector design for high‑radiation/high‑temperature environments.
• Hands-on background in analog/mixed‑signal electronics for low‑level signal measurement and signal integrity.
• Experience bringing hardware from design through qualification to production; DFx experience.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the Nuclear Instrumentation & Electronics organization, including hiring, org design, and developing engineering, test, and manufacturing teams.
• Define and own the product roadmap for nuclear instrumentation and electronics, including make-versus-buy decisions and platform strategy.
• Own design of neutron flux detection hardware across ranges for HTGR environments.
• Own design of radiation monitoring instrumentation and detectors.
• Own design of nuclear signal processing electronics, including FPGA firmware, and interfaces to safety systems.
• Lead qualification programs (IEEE 323, 344; Reg Guide 1.180) and qualification testing.
• Ensure designs meet nuclear safety requirements (IEEE 603, 7‑4.3.2) and lifecycle/V&V standards.
• Scale manufacturing for detectors and electronics, including cleanrooms and test fixtures.
• Drive DFM/DFT, transition from prototype to production with controlled documentation.
• Establish and maintain nuclear quality program (10 CFR 50 App B, NQA‑1, 10 CFR 21).
• Oversee licensing/material control for detectors with nuclear materials licensing.
• Own supply chain for critical components, develop second sources and manage obsolescence.
• Support NRC/DOE regulatory interactions and provide technical reports.

Skills

Leadership

Team leadership

Electronics

Nuclear instrumentation

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree (Nuclear/Electrical/Physics)

Tools

FPGA

DSP

Job description

Valar Atomics is seeking a Director of Nuclear Instrumentation & Electronics to build and lead the team that designs, qualifies, and manufactures nuclear instrumentation. You will own the full product lifecycle from detector physics to production, ensuring high-quality hardware for reactor production volumes.

You will drive qualification programs, establish a nuclear quality system, and collaborate across licensing, safety, and manufacturing teams to scale capabilities in a startup-like